Electrician Salary in Charleston, SC
Electricians in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area earn a median $59,010 a year — 7% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $47,211 take-home, or $3,934 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median electrician salary in Charleston, SC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,901
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,659
- Medicare (1.45%)$856
- South Carolina income tax$2,384
- Take-home pay$47,211
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Electrician pay by experience in Charleston, SC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,560 | $21.90 | $37,211 | $3,101 |
| 25th percentile | $48,970 | $23.54 | $39,746 | $3,312 |
| Median (50th) | $59,010 | $28.37 | $47,211 | $3,934 |
| 75th percentile | $66,160 | $31.81 | $52,527 | $4,377 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $75,660 | $36.38 | $58,674 | $4,890 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $59,010 buys in Charleston, SC
Prices in Charleston, SC are 1.0% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.20× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median electrician's $47,211 take-home pay has the buying power of $46,761 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Electrician jobs are less concentrated in Charleston, SC than nationally (location quotient 0.77), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for electricians, adjusted for cost of living
Charleston, SC ranks #196 of 221 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mount Vernon, WA | $104,510 | $82,353 | $80,389 |
| 2 | Kennewick, WA | $99,850 | $79,074 | $79,012 |
| 3 | Kokomo, IN | $91,290 | $70,389 | $78,517 |
| 4 | Bellingham, WA | $97,590 | $77,485 | $74,985 |
| 5 | Olympia, WA | $96,600 | $76,788 | $74,070 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $102,350 | $75,912 | $73,277 |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $101,780 | $80,432 | $72,375 |
| 8 | Trenton, NJ | $98,210 | $73,855 | $71,579 |
| 196 | Charleston, SC | $59,010 | $47,211 | $46,761 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 221 metros →
Electrician salaries elsewhere in South Carolina
- Spartanburg, SC — $62,050
- Greenville, SC — $60,210
- Columbia, SC — $60,390
Frequently asked questions
How much does a electrician make in Charleston, SC?
The median electrician salary in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area is $59,010 a year, or about $28.37 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $48,970 and $66,160.
What is a electrician’s take-home pay in Charleston, SC?
On the median $59,010 salary, a single filer living in South Carolina takes home about $47,211 a year ($3,934 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,384 in South Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Charleston, SC a good place to work as a electrician?
Pay here is 7% below the national median of $63,190. Local prices are 1.0% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $46,761 would in a typical U.S. city. Charleston, SC ranks #196 of 221 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a electrician afford rent in Charleston, SC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Charleston, SC is $1,630 a month ($1,787 for two bedrooms) — 41% of a median electrician’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Charleston, SC
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $77,470
- Construction and Building Inspector — $60,140
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $57,360
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $50,640
- Carpenter — $50,380
- Construction Laborer — $43,630